Monthly Rewind: March 2016

1. My wrist finally healed: OMG IT FELT LIKE IT TOOK SO LONG. But it’s feeling pretty good and I’ve eased back into all my planks and mountain climbers and burpees…..and am pretty much wanting to die because I haven’t done them in a month or two but am SO SO grateful for my healthy wrists!!!

2. We booked a bunch of things for our trip that we needed to do— We bought all sorts of passes and tickets and things we needed! Will is excited because we got tickets to go to a proper football match in England! CANNOT BELIEVE THIS TIME NEXT MONTH I WILL BE IN LONDON AGAIN SOOOO EXCITED.

3. Had a really fun brunch with some lady friends at my favorite local tea room: It was such a fun brunch! It was my 3rd time there in a month *hides face* *swears she isn’t addicted*

4. Had some really fun couples nights– After Will and I drifted away from our friend group we had since college we were sad about the lack of couple friends to do stuff with. Then we gained a few more and then they all ended up moving! We did couples night and played Cards Against Humanity with my girlfriends and their husbands and then we did dinner with my sister and her husband and one of my very best friends and her new boyfriend that we set her up with (he works with Will and my sister’s husband) and another couple whose husband works with all of them. It honestly was SOOOO nice to have couples to do stuff with again. We’ve missed it so much. We love hanging out together but honestly dinner or game night with other couples is something we both love so much. Honestly if there was a theme for this month was that I spent a lot of time with friends and I’m happy to be in some really great friendships these days.

5. Had 2 Easter lunches & got through the one I dreaded: I was particularly not looking forward to one because it’s hard for me to go to my former house and see my stepdad and his new wife (who my sister and I don’t get along with for good reasons) and her kids in the house that holds most of my childhood. It’s so hard to feel like a guest in the house you grew up in. Every time we have to go there I just want to cry because the absence of my mom is even stronger in those moments even though I want my stepdad to be happy. PLUS she invited her family. I just wasn’t feeling like having forced (not so) family fun and had a really crappy attitude about it going in. I mean, it may have been the 3 glasses of wine I had before dinner even started but it actually turned out to be enjoyable? I decided to not be as standoffish (as a defense mechanism for my sadness) as I was at the wedding this Fall and actually had a pleasant time???? It could have just been a fluke but I felt like maybe one day I will do these things and not want to cry the whole time that I’m in the house.

I put all my Monthly Rewinds in a Spotify playlist so you can listen to them here !

1. Warrior — AURORA

2. Even If It’s A Lie — Matt Maltese

3. Genghis Khan — Miike Snow

4.Throw Down your Guns — Wild Belle

5. My Heart Beats 4 U — Rooney (guysssss they were my favorite in high school and I DIED when I saw they came out with a new song!!!)

“Memory warps time, as it does the sights and sounds and smells of reality; for what shapes it is emotion, which can twist what seems clear, just as the surface of a pond seems to bend the stick thrust into the water.”— Crown Duel by Sherwood Smith

Honestly my If We Were Having Coffee post! These have been my favorite (and most interactive) posts I’ve done and I really look forward to catching up with you all when I do them. I’m always so grateful for the people I do get to connect with but lately I feel like they haven’t gotten the love. Thinking on why that might be! (and I totally realize that it could be that, while I try to respond to all, sometimes I fail because these comments are typically really lengthy in response and I genuinely take my time…gotta prioritize these comment replies above all others. I read ALL of them and think about you guys a lot).

NOTHING. Again. I had high hopes of finding some time now that I got a new camera but I don’t know….I have to step back and assess where I stand with youtube.

1. Why Your Blog Is More Important Than Ever: Over the past 6 years I’ve been blogging I’ve noticed how various social media has changed blogging. We probably ALL have if we’ve been around enough. I always wonder what it means for my blog and have pondered if I should go focus on another medium but this post expresses why I probably will never ditch the blog for something else.

2. Spiced Carrot Coconut Soup : I had a really great carrot soup (like one of the best soups I’ve ever had) at my local tea room a couple months ago and I’ve wanted to make one and one of my favorite food blogs posted this.

4. Why Revisiting A Place Can Be Just As Magical As The First Time: I am guilty of being a person who would rather visit new places than go back. I have told Will on numerous occasions I’m done with my family’s huge family vacation every other year because it’s always at the same place at the beach. I love that vacation but I always would rather go somewhere else I’ve never been with that vacation time – even though I know I’d miss the precious family time. For a quick second, when Will said he would like to go to London I almost pouted “but I’ve already been there can’t we pick a new country I’ve never been to” but then I was like 1) omg what a brat I am 2) it’s LONDON there’s so much of London I’ve never been to. This was a great post that helped me start to reframe things! I know, for me, I don’t get to travel as much as I’d like so I always feel like NEW PLACE NEW PLACE when I do but I do need to remember that travel isn’t just ticking off a list of places I want to go. True, it’s important but also revisiting can be just as satisfying. Christine, another travel blogger I follow and love, also had a really great post on this recently as well.

1. Tv shows — Colony & Miss Fisher’s Murder Mysteries: I started Colony (on USA) when the pilot aired in February I think but in March it GOT SO GOOD. I’m obsessed and cannot wait for next season. And then yeah…I have been Netflixing Miss Fisher (as I flailed about here) and it’s sooooo addictive.

2. The Reading Nook Tea from PlumDeluxe– (This is NOT sponsored). I just genuinely really loved the tea after being sent a sample of it with absolutely no post stipulations or strings attached. It’s a tea subscription service and I am asking for it as a gift for my birthday because it’s SUCH a great idea!! The Reading Nook blend tea was sooo tasty and I’m going to cry when I run out of it. Maybe I will just have to ask for an early birthday gift or just TREAT MYSELF. Planning on trying the self care blend next!!

3. Snapchat’s face swap filter: Bahahah how terrifying is this one of Will and I — I almost peed my pants laughing for like 20 minutes straight. I can’t get enough of making the most ridiculous face swaps. I’m brokeandbookish on Snapchat if you are there!!

(womp womp so weird for me not to have a new recipe to share. I did this 4 week meal plan in March and it was pretty boring. BUT I SURVIVED IT. )

1. Leaving on a jet plane!!!!: Pretty much going to be the highlight for April and May! We leave at the end of April for two weeks for London and Madrid.

2. Game of Thrones coming back!!!: Also sooooo scared for this!!

3. Some friend dates I have coming up: Bowling! Dinner! Coffee! Like I said, friendship has been a theme in my life lately — something I’m really prioritizing.

If you could get on a plane and go ANYWHERE right this second (for free)…where would you go?

Pick a category (or 5… or all of them) and tell me what went on in YOUR life this month!! What sort of things were noteworthy for you this month? New obsessions? Any new song recs?? Best books you read this month? Great posts I missed on your blog? Answer to my question of the month?

Jamie is a 30 year old married lady who is in denial that she's actually that old. When she's not reading you can find her doing Pilates followed by eating ice cream, listening to music with oversized headphones and having adventures with her husband and dog.

Comments

Yay, for your wrist feeling better!!
I hope you guys have fun at the football/soccer match 🙂 Btw, DM’ed you my address on twitter!
I’m proud of you for going to the Easter lunch at your step-dad’s house!! And I’m glad it wasn’t as bad as the last time.

Omg, YES!! I was so excited when I saw Rooney came out with a new song too! Did you know that the lead singer (Robert Schwartzman) is Michael from the Princess Diaries movies? Btw, if you ever get to see them live, do so!! I’ve seen them twice (and met once) and they’re were SO good!!
Hmm, not really any new songs. I’ve just been listening to the Soft Rock station (Music Choice’s through TWC) and man, IT’S SO GOOD. Mix of new and old music and it’s great haha.

I’m definitely going to check out The Winner’s Curse series soon! I’ve got 2 people ahead of me for it at the ebook branch of my library!
Best books I read in March? “Wolf By Wolf” by: Ryan Graudin and “The Storyspinner” by: Becky Wallace!

If I could get on a plane and go anywhere right now… I think I’d pick Scotland (the Edinburgh area, mostly)! I really just want to travel all of Europe!!

New obsessions? Not really new, but an extension to my letter writing/stationery obsession haha. Washi tape and more new pens! Also clear mailing envelopes and making folder/cards to put in them!!

I am so happy you had an enjoyable time over at your stepfather’s + new wife. I hope it continues to be this way <3 Have fun in London and Madrid! I can't wait for Game of thrones to continue and I'm scaaaaaaared.

I really love the ball thing on your bedside table. Is it a lamp? It’s gorgeous!

I hear you with the family stuff. *cuddles you* I lost my mum too and I get what’s it like. I think it’s good that you let yourself feel sad in that situation, A lot of people would just shut it out and pretend everything’s fine and dandy, when it’s not, and really, why should it be? It might not ever feel ok, but one day, maybe you’ll adjust a little? It’s ok to need time. And it’s ok for it to never be ok too. Always listen to your heart. If your heart’s saying, “Hey self, this makes me sad,” pay attention to it. Let it be there. *hugs* If you ever need I-want-my-mum kind of meltdown hugs, I’ve totally got you covered 🙂 @purple_autumn_4

I love your If We Were Having Coffee posts. I tend not to comment on them because I want to respond properly and I feel the comments are too public for that, for me personally. I did email you though, but I wasn’t expecting a reply because I waffled on for forever, lol.

Yes it’s a lamp from Ikea! I love it! It’s perfect for our bedroom because it’s not TOO much light but enough which i like for a bedroom.

I used to try and pretend everything was fine but I realized I couldn’t do that. Just have to feel what I’m feeling. It will be 10 years ago this July and it’s interesting along the way how many times you grieve a person — not just right after. The first holidays, the big things they miss, cleaning out their stuff, etc. etc.

And no, I have your email in my inbox saved to respond to likely tonight! I was sooo behind on comments that I just answered all of the ones on the actual post last night and planned to respond to yours today 🙂 I totally understand why some people email me rather than comment which is why I always wanted to let people know that emails are so great too! I am always happy when I get emails from people!

It’s very elegant 🙂 And simple too, if that makes sense? Minimalist is the term I want! As long as you can read by it, it’s a good light :p

I totally agree with that; because the person is missing from so much stuff in your life that they would be a big part of. And you notice the absence of them. But in a way, there’s beauty in that, because they matter so much to you, you crave them being there, and have this innate feeling that they SHOULD be there because they’re always going to be a part of your world.

Wow you had a lot going on this month! I’m so glad to hear that your wrist is finally feeling better! And that you are spending time with people! I find that sometimes I get so stuck in my routine that I forget to socially interact with people face to face rather than online only. You read some great books this month too – I’m so excited for THE CROWN’S GAME!

Also if I could go anywhere right now (FOR FREE), I would totes go to Orlando to Harry Potter world!

Gosh, the Easter dinner with your stepdad and his new wife sounded difficult. It’s so good to hear you managed to get through it without too much grief, and it’s amazing you were able to go in the first place. Very high road and big of you to do so. I’m sure your stepdad was glad for that, too. Awkward and uncomfortable don’t even fully express a situation like that, so I’m glad you came out content with it. *hugs*

If I could hop on a plane and go anywhere right now it would be to Italy. Sunny, warm, good food, amazing history. There’s nothing I am desperate to see there, especially with an impromptu vacation — I’d just BE. Now if I had the opportunity to do a bit more planning, I’d probably go to Italy and back to London. London is…*sigh* It’s the dream city. I hope you two have a BLAST there and in Madrid! Can’t wait to see all your pictures and hear about your trip.

If I could go anywhere right this moment I would fast forward to the middle of the month! I’m moving to a new town and I’m so excited! First time I’ve moved to a new town in my adult life. new places, new experiences, new people, more memories! You’re blog post on creative ruts helped out this month. I’ve been in a creative/reading rut for over a month now and I’m so frustrated. I’ve got 7 books going on right now. My faves so far are Shade Me by Jennifer Brown, Mr. Penumbra’s 24-hour Bookstore by Robin Sloan, After the Woods by Kim Savage, Lumberjanes Vol. 6, Giant Days, Vol. 10-12, and Mad Miss Mimic by Sarah Henstra. I also have to say I really liked your review on The Love that Split the World! I’m one of the few who really didn’t like the book. It just wasn’t my thing. I got it in OwlCrate and thought I would at least try to read it. The thing was I REALLY wanted to like it but I honestly just didn’t. Also just finished watching the first season on Miss Fisher’s! After your post I had to check it out. You were right, it’s so good! It totally reminds me of the Diviners by Libba Bray and I love that book!

So glad your wrists are feeling better. And London is such a great city. I love it! That is so exciting that you are going to a football match in England. I plan on starting The Winner’s Curse series at some point this month . . . maybe.

YES! From the first page I was hooked and didn’t want to put the book down at all. What is going to happen next? Is my suspicion about Kent true? YES! Yes, it was. *sigh* I was thrilled Elisandra and Roderick wound up together. The line that stuck with me the most was “But she seems happy now, does she not? Everyone will tell you she chose foolishly, but it’s a wise girl who knows what will make her content.” Yes, swoon worthy. I loved every aspect of this book. Thanks again for mentioning it! 🙂

Oh gosh, I can so relate to the goodness of spending some friend time. I feel like the hubs and I are still looking for some people. It gets even more complicated when your husband has a crazy schedule and you have small kids. Sigh…

I think that’s the thing I’ve noticed about being an adult re: friends. SCHEDULES BE CRAZY. In college it was like “okay lets hang out after classes and on the weekend” EASY PEASY. Now we have schedules and responsibilities and it makes it so hard to coordinate. I think that’s probably why our friend circle shrinks after college. But hopefully that means the time we ARE investing is with people worth investing for sure. I feel like now that we are finding friends its all going to change again as soon as we have kids haha. I hope you find your people!!!

Right now….. will def be flying back to my hometown with my hubs to spend time with family! I know, kinda lame but… as I’m in a different country, it’s only Pierre, me and my mom here so it’s really lonely…

I’m currently reading The Winner’s Kiss and I’m about 80% in and I’m hating it!! Errer… I just.. I don’t know.. now WOWED! and I sooo love the first 2 books in the series! I have a mind to DNF it right this minute… *sigh* please convince me to finish it?!